Gas-generating means for explosive-engines.



G. N. BARCUS & J. HOCKETT.

GAS GENERATING MEANS FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17.1914.

Patented July 24, 1917.

WI T/VESSES GEORGE N. BARCUS AND j'OHN HOCKETT, 01E WABASH, INDIANA. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July at, 1917.

Application filed April 17, 1914. Serial 110,832,574.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE N. BARoUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wabash, Wabash county, and State of Indiana, and JoHNHooKnrT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wabash, Wabash county, and State of Indiana, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generating Means for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to gas generating means for explosive engines, and its object is to provide means to enable kerosene to be employed as the motive fuel, to effect the complete vaporization of such a fuel by means of the exhaust gases, andto provide means whereby the vaporization is efl'ected before mixture with the ,air necessary to form the explosive charge, and whereby the proper proportioning of such air with the vapor is automatically controlled.

With these ends and others in View, our

invention is embodied in preferable form in the device hereinafter described and illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a side viewin elevation of the device applied to an engine; Fig. 2 a central longitudinal section of the device; Fig. 3 a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a detail view part1 in section of the valve member; Fig, 5, a etail longitudinal section of the valve with sleeve removed; and Fig. 6 a detail cross section through'the valve looking toward the head.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a shell, or body 1 which is provided with an inlet; opening 2, adapted to communicate with a section of the exhaust pipe, and an outlet 3 which may be adapted to communicate with a section of the exhaust, or, as shown, may simply form the outlet and section of such exhaust means. The inlet 2 leads'to a chamber 4 extending longitudinally of the shell. Within this chamber is mounted a longitudinally extending tube 6, which is closed at the end adjacent the exhaust inlet by means of a screw plug 7 and at the other end by-a similar screw plug 8. a

Within the tube 6, is loosely mounted a cylindrical solid core member 8, which is spaced by a thin film clearance s ace from the inner wall of the tube pre erably by means of a head 9 at one end thereof and thusproviding an exceedingly large area of liquid fuel body, relative to its mass and which body is adapted to be vaporized by the heat of the exhaust gases passing against the outside of the tube 6. The shell 1 is inclined to the horizontal, so that only a quantity of hydrocarbon in a liquid state determined by the height of the float chamber will enter the tube 6, and this liquid body will also be limited in amount and kept at alow level by thepressure of the gas generated in the tube above such level.

Hence there will always be a constant supply of liquid fuel in the lower part of the vaporizing tube and the feed ,to such tube from the gravity float valve tank will be independent of the suction of the engine. By

this arrangement there will always bea surplus of vapor in the tube above the body of liquid, which surplus or accumulation is necessary to insure the proper formation of the rapidly successive charges of vapor drawn out by the suction of the engine. To insure that such accumulation shall be suflicient for-more than one charge a collecting space is provided in the vaporizing tube beyond the end of the core as shown in the drawing.

Adjacent the hydrocarbon inlet end of the device, an. air inlet passage 12 extends through the shell 1 into a chamber 13, which is formed by and between the wall of the shell and the wall of the exhaust tube-2. Theichamber 13 is closed at the exit end of the shell by a cross wall 15. Near such exit end the air chamber or passageway 13 has a radial port 16 which'opens into a mixing chamber 17, formed by a removable cap or casing 19.

' The vaporizing tube 6 communicates near the exit end of the device with an outlet tube 20 which projects centrally through the port 16 and on this outlet tube 20 is mounted an automatically movable tubular valve member 22, which isprovided with a series of longitudinal ports 23 formed by slots out I as through the wall of, the tubular member tion of the tubular valve member 22, and is provided with longitudinal slots 26,.which correspond with thelongitudinal port slots in the valve and by means of which, through turning the sleeve rotatably, the area of the openings through the ports 22 may be increased or lessened in order to initially adjust the supply of vapor in proper proportion to the supply of air drawn through the air passageway.

Fixed on or integral with the tubular valve member is a disk valve 27 which is adapted to closethe outer end of the air port 16. As the valve 27 is drawn from its seat, the air will be carried past the valve and into the mixing chamber to there mix with the vapor admitted through the ports in the tubular valve member.

The longitudinal ports in the tubular valve member are slightly larger at their outer ends than at their inner ends, being preferably tapered toward their inner ends, the object of this arrangement being to permit a slightly greater volume of vapor to be fed in at theinitial operation of the en gine,i or when the same is running at slow spee Leading from the mixing chamber is an outlet pipe 28, in which is mounted abutterfiy throttle valve which is adapted to be controlled by any suitable manually operated means connected to the lever 29. The pipe 28 is adapted to communicate with the manis fold of the engine.

The double valve member consisting of the tubular valve for the vapor and the disk valve for the air is adapted to'be he1d to its seat by means of a sprin 30, one endof which bears against the disk and the other end of which is confined by the head of the casing 19.

The kerosene is preferably adapted to be fed to the inlet pipe of the device by gravity and the feed iscontrolled by an ordinary float valvein a casing31 interposed between the tank and the device.

In the operation of the device the exhaust gases are. led through the tube 2 which forms a continuing section of the usual exhaust pipe, thus heating both the kerosene tube 6 and the outer'air passageway 13..

The kerosene is fed by gravity into'the inlet 11, the quantity fed at each engine im pulse being determined by the height of chamber 31, and thence passe to the tube 6 where it is.caused'; to'travel in a. thin film between the core"7j and the inner surface of the wall of the tube. Owing to the extensive contact surface relative to the mass of the fuel afforded by the formation of this thin film, the kerosene will bexin'stantane ously heated to a very high temperature and at ,once-transformed into, vapor. The rapidity of the formation of this vaporwill be increased by the pressure within the tube due to the fact that it is closed at the inlet end'by its plug and at the other end by the spring pressed valve. Upon the suction impulse of the engine connected to the mix ing chamber, air "will be drawn into the chamber or passageway 13 and will force.

open the double valve member and thus permit the vapor and the air to'enter the mixing chamber and' be thoroughly mixed. Upon starting the engine, a somewhat greater volume of vapor proportional to the amount of air will be permitted to pass into the mixing chamber than when the en-' gine is running at high speed, owing to the fact that the ports 23 are slightly wider at their outer ends where they are first uncovered by the lifting of the valve on the outlet tube than at their inner ends, and also owing to the recesses 23, which open at once upon the lifting" of the valve from its rest. I A greater suction of the engine will 0 willbe heated, and the new charge of hydrocarbon vaporized by the heat of the exhaust. j

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:- p 1. A device for forming a gaseous mixture for explosive engines for motor. vehicles comprising an elongated tube open at both ends and which the' exhaust trav-" erses, an inner'concentric tube entirely in closed within said first tube and extending substantiallythe length thereof-and having an inlet for liquid hydrocarbon alone adja cent one end thereof and an outlet for vapor adjacent theother end thereof, a cylindrical elongated member within said second tube and extending from one end. thereof, said member being separated from the inner surface of the hydrocarbon tube by a thinfilm clearance space, and means providing for the accumulation of vapor charges.

2. A device 'for forming a gaseous mix ture. for high speed explosive engines for motor vehicles comprlsmg an exhaust-heated tube subject to'the engine suction, a cylindrical body in said tube spaced from the inner surface thereof by a thin film clearance only, said tube having a vapor collecting space adjacent one end of the cylindrical body and means for feeding predetermined charges.

annular cylindric vaporizing space in said tube, means providing for the accumulation of vapor charges from the tube, and means to admit liquid hydrocarbon to one end of said tube and a vapor outlet at the other end thereof.

4. A device for forming an explosive gaseous mixture for internal combustion engines comprising a tubular liquid hydrocarbon receiving body, a cylindrical member therein with a wall parallel to the wall of the tubular body and closely fitting the same and providing a narrow, annular elongated space, the cubical content of which is exceedingly small relatively to the surface areas of the tubular body and said member, said body having an outlet subject to the suction of the intake manifold of the engine, means for feeding a limited amount of liquid hydrocarbon to said body inde pendently of the suction, and means for passing the exhaust gases against the outside of said tubular hydrocarbon receiving body.

5. A device for forming a gaseous mixture for explosive engines comprising an exhaust receiving tube, a concentric liquid hydrocarbon receiving tube within the first tube and subject to the suction of the engine, a concentric cylindrical member within the second tube and separated from the wall of the latter by a thin cylindric clearance space only, and means providing for the accumulation of a charge of vapor in said liquid hydrocarbon receiving tube between successive suction impulses of the engine.

6. In combination with a high speed explosive engine for motor vehicles, a device for forming an explosive mixture comprisingqa tubular body having means for admitting exhaust gases thereto, a tubular liquid hydrocarbon receiving body within said first body, an elongated cylindrical member within and concentric with said liquid receiving body, said member and inclosing body having closely contiguous walls parallel throughout the length of said member providing an exceedingly narrow restricted.

cylindric space between said walls of small cubical content relatively to the surface areas of said cylinder and inclosing tube, said device having a vapor-collecting space beyond the end of said cylindrical member and having an outlet therefrom, a mixing chamber beyond and in communication with said outlet having an air inlet, and suction controlled valve means for the vapor outlet and air inlet.

7. A device for forming a gaseous mixture for internal combustion engines comprising means forming an elongated restricted cylindrical space for the reception of liquid hydrocarbon, a tubular exhaustheated body surrounding said means, said means having a vapor outlet subject to the suction of the engine, means to feed charges of liquid hydrocarbon of a predetermined amount to said space independently of the suction, a mixing chamber in communication with said space, means for admlttmg air to said chamber, and automatic spring.

pressed valve means controlled by the suction of the engine for controlling the admission of said vapor and air to said mixing chamber.

8. A device for forming a gaseous mixtur e for internal combustion engines comprising an exhaust-heated tube subject to the engine suctio and a cylindrical body in said tube sp ced from the inner surface thereof by a thin filmclearance and providing therewith a chamber for the accumulation of vapor charges, substantially as set forth.

9. A device "for forming an explosive gaseous mixture for internal combustion engines, having a vaporizing chamber, which has communication with a source of liquid hydrocarbon, exhaust gas conveying means surrounding said chamber, a valve subject to. the suction of the engine for closing the outlet end of said chamber, and means for mixingair with the vapor passing through said valve, substantially as described.

10. A device for forming an explosive gaseous mixture for internal combustion engines, having a liquid hydrocarbon-receiving chamber, a heating chamber surrounding the hydrocarbon receiving chamber, a mix-' ing chamber and a valve subject to the suction of the engine and between said hydro carbon receiving chamber and said mixing chamber, substantially as described.

11: In a device for forming an explosive mixture for internal combustion engines,

means forming a chamber for receiving.

liquid hydrocarbon, a heating chamber surrounding the first chamber, a mixing chamber, aspring pressed valve subject to the opening of the valve than at the remaining portions of theports, substantially as described.

12. In a device for forming an explosive mixture, in combination with means for vaporizing a liquid hydrocarbon, a mixing chamber in communication with said vaporizing means, air inlet means in communication with said mixing chamber, a valve controlling the passage of the vapor and having a port the area of which is greater at the initially opening portion of said port than at the remaining portion thereof, and means to uncover said ports to an extent proportionate to the suction of the engine, substantially as described.

13. In a device for forming explosive mixtures for internal combustion engines, in combination with means for vaporizing a liquid hydrocarbon, a mixing chamber, a vapor inlet tube leading into said chamber, air inlet means leading to said chamber, a tubular vapor inlet valve having ports extending longitudinally of the line of passage of the vapor through the inlet tube, a head eague closing one end of said valve and adapted to rest on the end of said inlet tube, said head having openings which communicate with said ports, substantially as described.

14. In a device for forming explosive mixtures for internal combustion engines, means for vaporizing'a liquid hydrocarbon, means forming a mixing chamber, an inlet tube leading from said vaporizing means into said chamber, air inlet means leading into mixing chamber, a common valve member for controlling said inlets, said valve having a tubular ported part surrounding the vapor GEORGE N. BARCUS. [1,. s.] JOHN HOCKETT. [Ls] Witnesses S. B. SMITH, E. F. MATTERN. 

